Graphic Design for the Curious High School & College Students: Why Study Graphic Design?

Why Study GRAPHIC DESIGN? There is this quote from the curious George Bernard Shaw who said, “You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”. So, why not consider GRAPHIC DESIGN as your college major or career? Are you interested in pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree in GRAPHIC DESIGN? How to decide if GRAPHIC DESIGN is right for you? One of the most important decisions that you will make in college is to select a major. Such decision should not be taken lightly, as it has profound implications for your career and life after college. A wrong choice today will result in added semesters and tuition tomorrow. Are you one of those students? Do you feel you are underprepared when choosing a major? Are you choosing your major based on influence and assumptions? Are you looking to your adviser, parents, and peers rather than draw conclusions based on your own research, interests, abilities, and self-reflection? If you answered “YES”, you are not alone. A recent research study shows that 80% of freshmen (first year college/university students) say they are undecided about their major. Most of them will change their minds multiple times even after they declare their major. Even the “decided” students often do not base their decision of major on factual research and self-reflection. The biggest mistake both the undecided and decided students make is failing to research what’s required of the major, and the profession. If you are one of those students, this book is for you. Why? It’s because - deciding on your major requires thinking ahead. It requires researching the major you want to pursue. Take a deep breath. You need help to make this important decision which will impact the rest of your life. The information in this book is NOT theory. These are not just a lot of nice suggestions. They are proven best practice strategies that work. Although most of the chapters in this book are peer-reviewed, they have been written in plain English in layperson’s terms to give you the best/easiest reading experience. So, why should you study GRAPHIC DESIGN? To help your research, we approached over 14 top professors to offer their powerful perspectives and advice. We asked them to address the most important issues for you in plain English: * Why should you choose GRAPHIC DESIGN as your undergraduate major or minor? * Why should you undertake a graduate/PhD degree in GRAPHIC DESIGN? * What are the research areas/issues and scholarship opportunities in GRAPHIC DESIGN? * What are the jobs/career options and best practice tips for the GRAPHIC DESIGN graduates? There are many books which claim to help you choose your major. But this book is different. How? First, as opposed to “one size fits all” books, this is the first book ever written solely focusing on GRAPHIC DESIGN. Second, as opposed to perspective from a single author, this book provides you with multiple perspectives. Third, as opposed to most other academic/complex books, this book is easy to understand and read. Finally, as opposed to crippling higher prices charged by other publishers, we have made this book available at the price of less than two lattes (or two beers if you prefer). This book contains no fluff, no complex theories, and no sugar coating. This is a serious book. It is presented in a rather fun, non-serious manner.